Golf-practising device.



T.. J. FORTE.

GOLF PRACTISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1.1916.

1,224,4m Patented May1,1917.

THOMAS J. FORTE,- or' WINNIPEG, MAnI'roBA, CANADA.

GOLF-PRAC'IISING DEVICE.

maaaio.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Forum, of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf-Practising Devices, of which the followingis the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in golf practising devices and the principal object of the invention is to provide a practising device whereby-one with a captive ball can practise the various golf club strokes and while so practising can determine the strength of the stroke and by so doing be enabled to practise the various shots the same as would be required on the links.

. ily regulated to A further object of the invention is to const uct an appliance or. this kind so that it can be readily set up in a yard or in a room and also one which can be manufactured and sold at small cost and which,'when not required for use, can be readily folded and stored. j

A further object of the invention is to construct a practising device which can be readaccommodate'the strokes to be made. I

A' further object is to construct the appliance in a manner such that the arresting element utilized to stop the captive projectile will absorb considerable of theimpact and further such that the projectile can strike the arresting element over an extended area, thereby adding materially to the durability of the structure. v

With the above objects in view the invention consists essentially in the a rangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the complete appliance as set up for use.

Fig. 2 represents a front view of the striking pad. platform and associated parts.

Fig. 3 represents avertical sectional view through the pad, pivot rod and brace bar, the section being taken in the plane denoted Fig. 4 represents a back view of the striking pad.

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of the captive ball.

Specification of Letters Patent.

reference being bad Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal sectional view through one end of the ball runway showing the pin carried thereby.

Fig. 7 represents a plan view of a portion of'the ball runway.

' In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

1 represents a substantially rectangular solid base piece or platform which is provided with any suitable form of anchoring means such comprising, in the present instance, angle pieces 2 and 3 fitted with hooked spikes, 4 and 5, the spikes being driven into the ground to hold the platform against movement.

At the front end of/t-he platfornrI locate a pair of normally upright posts 6 and 7 which are connected by a tie bar 8 and have their lower ends fastened to the platform by hinges 9 and 10,'this construction allowing the posts to be folded back on to the platform for storage purposes.

The cross bar is supplied with pairs of eyes 11'and 12 and-flexible ties 13 connect the Patented May 1, 1917. Application filed November 1, 1916. Serial No. 128,958.

platform. These stay rods are supplied with turn buckles 16 so that they can be adjusted.

From this arrangement it will be seen that the posts can be held fixed in their upright position but can be readily released by undoing the hooks and then folded down against the platform.

17 is an open ended substantially rectan-.

.gular striking frame arresting element comprising a top piece 18 and side extensions or legs 19 and 20;, the legs actually spanning the posts to which they are pivoted by means of a cross rod 21. The lower ends of the legs terminate adjacent the platform and are provided standing strikers 2-2 and 23. The upper portion of the frame carries an arresting pad 24 which is supplied more or less centrally thereof with a vertically disposed slot 25.

The-pad can be of any desired form suitable for the purpose for which it is employed; In the present instance it isshown as formed from a rectangular frame 26 having a plurality of leather strips 27 passed across it, these being reinforced at the back at their lower extremities with outby strands of wire The pad is suspended from the frame 17 by wires 29.

1s a spiral spring passing from the-leg 19 rearwardly'to the platform, the arrangement of this spring being such that it holds the frame 17 normally in an upright position and returns it to the upright position when the upper part thereof is swung backwardly.

31 is a cross bar of channel iron construction permanently secured to the underside of the platform at the front and having the ends thereof projecting beyond -the sides of the platform and provided each with a hole 'or opening 32 for a purpose later explained.

'33 is an anchor post located centrally on the rear portion of the platform, the base "of the post being attached to the platform by means of a hinge 3 f.

35 and 36 are adjustable stays passing between the top of the anchor post and the rear end of the platform. Turn buckles 37 are supplied in these stays for adjustment purposes. I v It is to be noticed that the upper end of the said stays pass over a hook 38 on the post. By this arrangement it is possible for one to release the stays 35 and 36, undo them from the hook 38 and then fold the post down forwardly.

At some distance in advance of the platform and directly alined with the longitudinal axis thereof I locate a pad 39 which is anchored to the ground by meansof a spike 4C0. 7 Between the spike and the upper end of the anchoring post I stretch a wire, cable or guide 41 which extends through, the slot 25 and has the end thereof behind the pad fitted with a turn buckle 42 and fastened to the end of the post by ahook 4.3. The guide wire, according to this arrangement, can be drawn up tight by adjusting the turn buckle. 4% represents a ball runway which is formed from a number of similar sections jointed together by hinges 45. The runway is graduated in yards fro-m one end to the other, such being indicated at 4:6 and the sections of the runway are supplied at the sidesv and adjoining the hinge joints with staples span the runway and friction is relied upon to maintain the runway in any adjusted position in respect to the wickets, it being understood that the wickets are driven into the ground when the device is set up. In setting the runway up it can be placed at the right or left hand side of the platform to accommodate a right or left hand player and in setting it up it is necessary that the lower end of the runway be attached to the cross.

bar 31 by inserting a pin 49 of the runway beneath one or other ofthe strikers 22 or 23 and a free indicating ball 50 lies on the runway and against the striker.

On the wire I mount slidably a captive ball 51 which in' the present instance is attached to the wire by means of a link 52 and staple passing through the ball oriprojectile.

The above completes the description of the parts of the invention and although I have shown it as it would appear set up on the ground still it will be obvious that it can be used in aroom for practice purposes, it being only necessary to suitably anchor the platform and the end of the wire adjoining the pad or mat.

When one wishes to utilize the appliance for practising he sets it up as shown placing the runway to the right or left hand side,

- depending on whether he is a right hand or left hand player. The various shots as taken with the various golf clubs can then be tried, the striker hitting the captive ball from its position on the pad 39. The ball after being struck travels on the wire 41 until it strikes the pad 24 at which point the ball is arrested and the impact causes the upper part of the frame 17 to swing backwardly, sharply, with the result that one of the strikers shoots the ball 50' up the runway.

By properly setting up the runway one can determine fairly accurately the strength of his stroke as the distance which the ball j 50 travels .up the runway, as shown by the graduations, will be a record of the distance which'tlie free ball would have-traveled under actual playing conditions.

To understand this better it is explainedthat the golf player knows from experience just how'far he can drive a ball with a certain club, say a driver. Knowing this, if he is practising driving shots, he sets the runway so that the ball 50' will travel up the runway an indicated distance. equal to the distance which, under playing conditions, he would drive a free ball with a heavy stroke.

After the device has been once set up to accommodate the individual he can judge all his following strokes by watching the travel of the ball 50 on the runway.

lVhen the device is not in use it can be folded up and stored as after the variouscables and tie rods have been released the parts can be folded down compactly. What I claim as my -invention is 1. In combination an arresting member, a guide .wire or the like leading to the arrest ing member, a projectile captive to the wire, and means associated with the member to register the degree of impact of the projectile with the member.

2. In combination a movable arresting member, a projectile and a guide wire or the, like for the projectile and passing through the member.

3. ,In combination a movable arresting tive to the guide and rotative with the guide igga uo' member, a projectile and a fixed linear guide for directing the projectile to hit the arresting member.

4. In combination a movable arresting member, a projectile, a fixed guide wire or the like for the projectile and directed to the arresting member the movement of the arresting member to indicate the degree of impact of the projectile with the member.

5. In combination a taut guide Wire, a ball captive to the wire, an arresting pad adapted to be struck by the ball in flight on the wire and means associated with the pad to indicate the degree of impact of the ball with the pad.

6. In combination in a golf practising device, a linear guide, a ball, and a connection fastening the ball to the guide and permitting flight of the ball in the direction of the guide.

7. In combination in a golf practising device, a linear guide, a ball, and a connection between the'ball and theguide permitting movement of the ball in the direction of and around the guide.

8. In combination in a golf practising device, a linear guide, a ball, .and a link connecting the ball to the guide.

9. In combination in a golf practising device, an arresting member, a linear guide leading to the member, and a projectile capas the center of rotation.

' 10. In combination in a golf practising device, a projectile, an arresting member therefor, and means for indicating the degree of impact of the projectile against the member including a striker associated with said member, a flexible ball runway havingone end fixed, means for ad usting the runway to vary the inclination thereof, and an indicating ball on the runway bearing normally against the striker and adapted to be moved up the runway by the striker upon .the impact of the projectile with the arresting member.

11. In combination in a golf practising device, a projectile, an arresting member therefor, and means forindicating the degreeof impact of the projectile with the memberincluding a graduated sectional ball a runway having one end fixed, means for independently adjusting the several sections of the runway, and an indicating ball on the runway bearing normally against the striker and adapted to be moved along the runway by the striker upon impact of the projectile with the arresting member.

12. In combination,'a suitably guided captive. ball, a pivotally suspended striking frame provided with downwardly extending legs,

- arresting pad carried by the upper portion of the striking frame and located in the path and means actuated by legs formed as part upper portion a striker carried by each leg, an

of the captive ball, a runway located ad- ,jacent one of the strikers and an indicating ball mounted on the runway and bearing normally against the striker.

13. In combination, a suitably guided captive ball, a pivotally suspended striking frame provided with downwardly extending legs, a striker carried by each leg, an arresting pad carried by the upper portion of the striking frame and located in the path of the captive ball, resetting means normally retaining the striking frame in an upright position, an inclined runway associated with and extending from one of the strikers and a free ball mounted on the runway and bearing normally against the adjoining striker.

14. In combination, a stretched guide wire, acaptive ball mounted for movement on the guide wire, an arrestin pad located in the path of the ball on t e wire and adapted to be struck by the ball when traveling on the wire and an indicating ball mounted to be. projected coincidentwith the striking of the pad by the captive ball and projecting through the impact of the captive ball with the pad.

15. In combination, a stretched guide wire, a captive ball mounted on the guide wire, an arresting pad associated with the guide wire and adapted toreceive and arrest the struck captive ball and an indicating ball mounted to be projected by the impact of the captive ball with the pad.

16. In combination, an anchored base, an anchor post extending upwardly from the base, a stretched guide wire extending from the anchor post, a captive ball mounted on the wire, a striking frame pivotallfy mounted on the base and presenting downwardly extending legs, spring means normally retaining the striker frame in the upright position, strikers located on the legs, an arresting pad carried by the upper portion of the frame and located in the path of the captive ball and adapted to be struck by the ball in the flight of the same on the wire, a graduated inclined runway. extending from one of the strikers and an indicating ball mounted on the runway and bearing normally on the striker.

' 17. In combination, an anchored base, a pair of upright posts mounted on the base, a striking frame pivotally suspended from the posts and having downwardly extending thereof, strikers carried arresting pad carried by the of the frame and vertically slotted, an'anchor po'st erected on the base, a guide wire extending forwardly from the upper end of the anchor.post throughthe slot in the pad and having the forward end thereofanchored to the ground, a captive by the legs, an

'- ball mounted on the wire and adapted, when struck, to ride on the wire and hitthe pad,

inclined runway having the lowermost end adjacent one of the strikers and a ball In t 5 mounted on the runway and hearing against the striker.

; spring m'eans retaining the fstriker' frarhe 'Signed at Wimiipeg this 15th dey 'of normally in an upright position 'and an 'August, 1916.

, THOMAS JIPORTE. he presence of G. S. ROXBURGH,

K. WAKEFIELD. 

